Lesson 2: The Folktale

Question 1

Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

Answer 1

• The first to collect stories for children deliberately in his “coloured” fairy books.
• These books contain tales from around the world, collected and edited by Lang and his wife. The tales tend to be rather homogenous in terms of style, but this is attributable to Lang’s concern for making the stories presentable to young readers.
• Lang is one of the first to make the effort to have folk and fairy tales available to children in a suitable format

Question 2

List three primary characteristics of folk or traditional literature.

Answer 2

1. Oral Tradition: Most folk literature is passed down orally from generation to generation rather than being written down. This contributes to variations in the stories over time.
2. Cultural Universality: These stories often reflect universal themes and motifs that resonate across different cultures. They convey shared human experiences and values.
3. Anonymous Authorship: Many traditional tales lack a known author and have evolved through collective storytelling. They belong to the community or culture rather than an individual creator.

Question 3

describe monogenesis in connection with folktales

Answer 3

• One of two theories that attempt to explain the beginnings of the oral tradition.
• posits that folktales had only one source, a single Indo-European group, probably Aryan, who brought their stories with them into Europe and disseminated them to other parts of the inhabited world

Question 4

describe polygenesis in connection with folktales

Answer 4

• One of two theories that attempt to explain the beginnings of the oral tradition.
• posits that folktales emerged independently in different parts of the world and that the similarities between folktales of different cultures is suggestive of C. G. Jung’s idea of the collective unconscious: that realm of dream, symbol, and archetype in which people from all over the world share.

(It is also possible that, as Northrop Frye suggests, folktales, once established, migrated from place to place and from culture to culture, changing according to people and geography)

Question 5

What are the needs of children and adults that the folktale satisfies?

Question 6

List the main types of folk literature popular with children

Answer 6

1. Fairy Tales
2. Fables
3. Myths
4. Legends
5. Tall Tales

Question 7

Fairy Tales:

briefly describe the characteristics, and give at least one example.

Answer 7

Characteristics: Often involve magical elements, enchanted settings, and moral lessons. They typically have archetypal characters like princesses, witches, and heroes.

Examples:
- Cinderella
- Snow White

Question 8

Fables:

briefly describe the characteristics, and give at least one example.

Answer 8

Characteristics: Short stories with anthropomorphic animals as characters, conveying moral lessons or messages. Animals often exhibit human traits and behaviors.

Examples:
- The Boy Who Cried Wolf
- The Tortoise and the Hare

Question 9

Myths:

briefly describe the characteristics, and give at least one example.

Answer 9

Characteristics: Sacred or religious narratives explaining the origins of the world, natural phenomena, and societal customs. Often involve gods, goddesses, and supernatural beings.

Examples:
- Greek Mythology (Hercules and the Lion)
- The Norse Myth of Thor

Question 10

Legends:

briefly describe the characteristics, and give at least one example.

Answer 10

Characteristics: Narratives based on real or historical events, often with embellishments over time. Heroes, legendary figures, and extraordinary feats are common elements.

Examples:
- Robin Hood
- King Arthur

Question 11

Tall Tales:

briefly describe the characteristics, and give at least one example.

Answer 11

Characteristics: Exaggerated, humorous stories featuring larger-than-life characters with extraordinary abilities. Often rooted in American folklore.

Examples:
- Paul Bunyan
- Pecos Bill

Question 12

Distinguish briefly between myth, legend, fairy tale and folktale.

Answer 12

1. Myth:
   - Nature: Myths are traditional stories that explain the origins of the world, natural phenomena, and the customs of a society.
   - Characters: Often involve gods, goddesses, and supernatural beings.
   - Purpose: Serve as sacred or religious narratives to convey the beliefs and values of a culture.
2. Legend:
   - Nature: Legends are narratives based on real or historical events but often embellished over time.
   - Characters: Feature heroes, legendary figures, and extraordinary feats.
   - Purpose: Convey historical or moral lessons, shaping the cultural identity of a community.
3. Fairy Tale:
   - Nature: Fairy tales are imaginative stories with magical elements, enchanted settings, and often involve archetypal characters like princesses, witches, and heroes.
   - Characters: Include magical beings, talking animals, and mythical creatures.
   - Purpose: Entertain, teach moral lessons, and explore universal themes through fantastical elements.
4. Folktale:
   - Nature: Folktales are traditional stories passed down orally, representing the collective wisdom and experiences of a community.
   - Characters: Can feature humans, animals, or supernatural entities and often involve ordinary people in extraordinary situations.
   - Purpose: Entertain, convey cultural values, and provide insights into the shared heritage of a community.

Question 13

What are the characteristics or conventions of the folktale?

Answer 13

1. Folktales follow the basic Aristotelian form of beginning, middle (development or complications), and end (dénouement or resolution).
2. The middle of the folktale contains the conflict or obstacle that the hero must overcome in order to resolve the story. This main action comes quickly, sometimes without any preliminaries, as in “Hansel and Gretel,” where we discover a woodcutter and his wife talking about how there is little food to eat, and the wife suggesting that they abandon the children in the forest.
3. The main conflict of the story usually falls into a pattern of three: three encounters, three ogres, three tests. Such repetition is consistent at least among European, African, and Indian folktales. Not all folktales make use of such a pattern, but it occurs with enough regularity among different cultures to make it a representative trademark of the folktale.
4. When the plot reaches its climax and crisis, the end or dénouement comes quickly. Good and evil get their just deserts as the hero and heroine are rewarded and the villain punished, usually violently.
5. Other characteristic elements of folktales include the innocent hero and beautiful heroine, frequently the youngest child, usually of three; and helper figures, such as animals or wise old men or crones. Villains are excessive and stylized, and generally want to kill or eat the hero or heroine

Question 14

What two issues in folk literature does Russell specifically identify as major concerns?

Question 15

Charles Perrault (1628-1703)

Answer 15

• a French author and member of the Académie Française. He is often regarded as the father of the fairy tale genre. Perrault is best known for his collection “Tales of Mother Goose” published in 1697
• Perrault’s fairy tales, including “Cinderella,” “Sleeping Beauty,” and “Little Red Riding Hood,” were among the earliest to be written down and published for a broad audience. His work laid the foundation for the popularization of fairy tales in children’s literature, influencing future generations of storytellers.

Question 16

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm (1785-1863)

Answer 16

• Grimm were German scholars, linguists, and folklorists who, in the early 19th century, compiled and published a collection of folk and fairy tales. Their most famous work is “Grimm’s Fairy Tales,” first published in 1812.
• The Grimm Brothers significantly contributed to the preservation and popularization of traditional folktales. Their collection, which includes stories like “Snow White,” “Hansel and Gretel,” and “Cinderella,” played a crucial role in shaping the genre of children’s literature and establishing the importance of fairy tales in cultural storytelling.

Question 17

King Arthur

Answer 17

• King Arthur is a legendary British figure associated with medieval folklore and literature. The stories about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table have been passed down through various forms, including poetry, prose, and romances.
• King Arthur and his tales, often set in the mythical realm of Camelot, hold a central place in the history of children’s literature. These stories, filled with knights, chivalry, and quests, have been adapted and retold for centuries. They contribute to the cultural and literary heritage, shaping the ideals of heroism and adventure in children’s narratives.

Question 18

Kunzt-märchen

Answer 18

a development of the folktale märchen: they include those folktales re-worked by an author—such as Charles Perrault’s “Cinderella” or Mme De Beaumont’s “Beauty and the Beast”—as well as original literary tales modelled on folktales, like the works of Hans Christian Andersen, John Ruskin, and Oscar Wilde found in The Twelve Dancing Princesses.

Question 19

Bruno Bettelheim (1903-1990)

Answer 19

• Bruno Bettelheim (1903–1990) was an Austrian-born psychologist and author, best known for his work in the field of child psychology and his interpretations of fairy tales. His notable work includes “The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales,” published in 1976.
• In “The Uses of Enchantment,” Bettelheim explores the psychological and developmental benefits of fairy tales for children. He argued that these tales help children navigate complex emotions, fears, and challenges, fostering resilience and emotional growth. While his interpretations have been debated, Bettelheim’s work has influenced discussions on the psychological impact of storytelling on children.

Question 20

Joseph Campbell (1904-1987)

Answer 20

• an American mythologist, writer, and lecturer, best known for his work in comparative mythology. His influential book “The Hero with a Thousand Faces,” published in 1949, explores the concept of the hero’s journey and the common motifs found in myths from various cultures.
• Campbell’s work has had a profound impact on the understanding of mythology and storytelling. His concept of the hero’s journey, which involves a hero undertaking an adventure, facing and overcoming challenges, and returning transformed, has been widely embraced in literature, film, and popular culture. Campbell’s ideas continue to shape discussions on the universality of mythic themes and their relevance to the human experience.

Question 21

monomyth

Answer 21

• The monomyth, also known as the hero’s journey, is a narrative pattern identified by Joseph Campbell in his work “The Hero with a Thousand Faces.” It outlines a common structure found in myths, legends, and fairy tales across diverse cultures and time periods.

The stages of the monomyth:
1. The call to adventure
2. Refusal of the call
3. Supernatural aid
4. Crossing the threshold
5. Tests, allies, enemies
6. Approach to the inmost cave
7. Ordeal
8. Reward
9. The road back
10. Resurrection
11. Return with the elixir

• The monomyth is significant as it highlights the universal structure of heroic narratives. Its influence extends to literature, film, and storytelling, serving as a framework for understanding the hero’s journey and the transformative nature of storytelling across cultures.

Question 22

The different ways in which scholars approach folktales:

psychoanalytic

Answer 22

• Controversial psychotherapist Bruno Bettelheim represents the psychoanalytic approach in his book The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales.
• Bettelheim discusses folktales as a means of understanding the developmental needs of the child. According to Bettelheim, a folktale such as “The Goosegirl” is about autonomy: the adventure of the princess describes the process by which the child gains independence from the parent.

Question 23

The different ways in which scholars approach folktales:

historical

Answer 23

• Literary critic Jack Zipes, on the other hand, takes a specifically historical approach to folk and fairy tales in Breaking the Magic Spell: Radical Theories of Folk and Fairy Tales.
• Zipes places the development of folktales in the context of political and social change and reads a story such as “Jack and the Beanstalk” in terms of an emerging middle class in England.

Question 24

The different ways in which scholars approach folktales:

mythic

Answer 24

• In The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell approaches myth and folktale in terms of archetypes and archetypal patterns, applying his comprehensive study of the journey of the archetypal hero to myths and other traditional stories from around the world. Campbell’s theory of archetypes borrows from the psychology of C. G. Jung, who posited that the basic patterns found in myth are the same as those that inform dreams and the human unconscious:Dream is the personalized myth, myth the depersonalized dream. Both myth and dream are symbolic in the same general way of the dynamics of the psyche. But in the dream the forms are quirked by the peculiar troubles of the dreamer, whereas in myth the problems and solutions shown are directly valid for all mankind. (Campbell 19)
• The characters of myth—heroes, ogres, the wise old man, the crone—are also characters that exist as archetypes within the human unconscious mind, that part of the psyche which represents the shared experience of humankind, and it is through this shared experience that Campbell establishes his journey of the archetypal hero